Psalm 40 13

Psalm 40:13 kjv

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

Psalm 40:13 nkjv

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me!

Psalm 40:13 niv

Be pleased to save me, LORD; come quickly, LORD, to help me.

Psalm 40:13 esv

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!

Psalm 40:13 nlt

Please, LORD, rescue me!
Come quickly, LORD, and help me.

Psalm 40 verses

Psalm 40 13 Meaning

Psalm 40:13 is a fervent, urgent prayer from the psalmist (traditionally David) pleading for God's immediate and gracious intervention. It expresses a deep reliance on God's willingness to save and His prompt action in providing help in a time of great distress, recognizing God's sovereign favor and power as the sole source of deliverance.

Psalm 40 13 Context

Psalm 40 is a "mixed psalm," transitioning from thanksgiving for past deliverance (vv. 1-5) to a declaration of obedience and delight in God's law (vv. 6-10), and then to an earnest lament and petition for future help against many troubles (vv. 11-17). Verse 13 marks a pivot back to direct prayer for divine intervention, following a confession of overwhelming sin and distress (vv. 11-12). The psalmist acknowledges his precarious situation and urgently appeals to God based on His character and past faithfulness, specifically requesting rescue from his dire circumstances and swift aid from those who seek his harm.

Psalm 40 13 Word analysis

• Be pleased (Y'hi ratzon, יְהִי רָצוֹן): This phrase literally means "May it be Your will/pleasure." It is not a command, but a humble and reverent petition acknowledging God's sovereignty. It reflects a deep yearning for God's favorable disposition and willingness to act, resting entirely on His grace and good purpose. It suggests the psalmist knows God is capable, but seeks His consent or desire to intervene.
• O LORD (YHWH, יְהוָה): The covenant name of God, revealing His personal, unchanging, and faithful character. This address emphasizes the psalmist's reliance on God as the covenant keeper and points to a relational trust. It evokes His past acts of salvation and His commitment to His people.
• to deliver me (L'hatsileni, לְהַצִּילֵנִי): From the root natsal (נָצַל), meaning "to rescue," "to snatch away," or "to draw out." It implies removal from a dangerous or oppressive situation, highlighting the need for a swift, decisive act of salvation from an immediate threat or distress.
• O LORD / My God (Elohay, אֱלֹהַי): While some translations repeat "O LORD" for clarity, the Hebrew actually uses Elohay ("my God") for the second divine address. This shift intensifies the personal and intimate nature of the plea. It reinforces a relationship of possession and deep dependence, expressing the psalmist's personal ownership and trust in his God's power and readiness to act.
• make haste (Husha, חוּשָׁה): A Hiphil imperative from hush (חוּשׁ), meaning "to hurry," "to hasten," "to come quickly." This word conveys a strong sense of urgency, revealing the severity of the psalmist's present distress and his fervent desire for immediate divine intervention, reflecting a crisis that cannot wait.
• to help me! (L'ezrati, לְעֶזְרָתִי): From ezer (עֵזֶר), meaning "help," "support," or "aid." This is a broad term for divine succor, emphasizing God's active involvement in providing support and relief from the current burden or attack. It rounds off the petition, asking for God to come to his aid.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me": This phrase powerfully combines reverence for God's sovereignty and a desperate, specific request. It begins by humbly seeking God's divine favor, rather than demanding aid. This shows the psalmist understands that salvation is rooted in God's good pleasure, not in human merit, and articulates a desire for complete rescue from an immediate threat.
• "O LORD (my God), make haste to help me!": This parallel structure heightens the intensity. The repetition of an appeal to God (moving from YHWH to Elohay for intimacy) coupled with the imperative "make haste" emphasizes the urgent, critical nature of the psalmist's need. It expresses the psalmist's deep conviction that only God can provide aid, and he needs it quickly. The two lines together form a comprehensive plea for both deliverance (being snatched away from trouble) and help (sustained aid) by God's speedy intervention.

Psalm 40 13 Bonus section

This verse, Psalm 40:13, is nearly identical to the opening verse of Psalm 70, which is commonly understood to be a short excerpt or a condensed reiteration of the desperate petition section of Psalm 40. This close textual parallel underscores the critical importance and intense earnestness of this particular plea in ancient Israelite worship and prayer. The very fact that this short, fervent cry was abstracted and presented as a complete, standalone psalm (Psalm 70) highlights its power and enduring relevance as a model prayer for divine urgency and deliverance in times of great distress. It also demonstrates how specific verses of petition were often used liturgically or memorized as concise cries for help.

Psalm 40 13 Commentary

Psalm 40:13 serves as a pivotal prayer within a psalm that navigates profound personal experience from praise to petition. It captures the essence of urgent, Spirit-filled prayer in crisis. The psalmist, overwhelmed by troubles and sin (vv. 11-12), shifts from internal lament to a direct, dual appeal to the living God. The first plea, "Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me," is steeped in humility and dependence on God's sovereign will and gracious disposition. It acknowledges that ultimate deliverance stems from God's character and choice to save. The second plea, "O LORD, make haste to help me!" (using "my God" in Hebrew) intensely reiterates the personal and immediate nature of the psalmist's distress. "Make haste" underlines a crisis that demands urgent divine response. The pairing of "deliver" (rescue from the problem itself) and "help" (provide support and aid through it) encompasses the breadth of the petitioner's need. This verse exemplifies the faith of one who, even amidst overwhelming odds, casts all anxiety on the Lord, confident in His power and love, while respectfully imploring His swift and decisive intervention.

• Practical usage: When facing a challenging situation (illness, financial hardship, persecution) or internal spiritual battle, use this verse as a template for prayer: humble your heart, call on the faithful God, specify your need for rescue, and passionately ask for immediate divine aid. It reminds us to not only seek rescue but also express deep personal dependence.